18

Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata) Alternate name(s): "Gillbird", "Wattled Honeyeater", "Barking Bird", "Mutton-bird*" Aboriginal name(s): "carunculata": "kani yulong" [tjapwurrung]; "wodjalok", "durdal", "doongorok", "djidero" "woodwardi": "djoongong*" (WA) Size: 32-36 cm Body mass: 85-130 g

Australia: Family Group 18 Family Group 18 Table Yellow Wattlebird Red Wattlebird Little Wattlebird Western Wattlebird Regent Honeyeater Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Striped Honeyeater Helmeted Friarbird Silver-crowned Friarbird Noisy Friarbird Little Friarbird Blue-faced Honeyeater Bell Miner Yellow-throated Miner Noisy Miner Macleay's Honeyeater Tawny-breasted Honeyeater Yellow-spotted Honeyeater Graceful Honeyeater Lewin's Honeyeater Yellow-faced Honeyeater Bridled Honeyeater Eungella Honeyeater Singing Honeyeater Mangrove Honeyeater Varied Honeyeater White-lined Honeyeater Kimberley Honeyeater White-gaped Honeyeater Yellow Honeyeater White-eared Honeyeater Yellow-throated Honeyeater Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Purple-gaped Honeyeater Grey-headed Honeyeater Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Grey-fronted Honeyeater Fuscous Honeyeater Yellow-tinted Honeyeater White-plumed Honeyeater Green-backed Honeyeater Brown Honeyeater Bar-breasted Honeyeater Brown-backed Honeyeater Rufous-throated Honeyeater Grey Honeyeater Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Rufous-banded Honeyeater White-streaked Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater White-cheeked Honeyeater Crescent Honeyeater White-fronted Honeyeater Painted Honeyeater Black-chinned Honeyeater White-throated Honeyeater Strong-billed Honeyeater White-naped Honeyeater Brown-headed Honeyeater Black-headed Honeyeater Eastern Spinebill Western Spinebill Banded Honeyeater Black Honeyeater Pied Honeyeater Scarlet Honeyeater Red-headed Honeyeater Dusky Honeyeater Garden Sunbird Gibberbird Crimson Chat Orange Chat Yellow Chat White-fronted Chat Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Red Wattlebirds are large nectar-eating birds. The general appearance of their plumage is dark grey-brown, with prominent white streaking. The forehead is almost black, while below the eyes there are single white patches. The belly is the only part of the body that is not striated grey; it is yellow. The wings, rather than being striated, are dark-grey, with light-grey edge lining. The undertail coverts are barred. The grey tail is very long, with feathers that have different, tapered lengths, each having a white end. Their most prominent feature, apart from the yellow belly, is a pair of relatively small red wattles under the eyes. Females are smaller than males. The irises are dark-red. The long, curved bill is dark-grey, while the legs and feet are the colour of skin. Juveniles and immature birds have smaller wattles or none at all yet. Their underparts are browner than those of adults.

Taxonomy, classification See Red Wattlebird at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Red Wattlebird is available HERE . Red Wattlebirds are endemic to Australia. They populate a wide coastal fringe around the southern half of the Australian continent, from about Geraldton, WA, to Brisbane, QLD. The range of nominate race "carunculata" extends from near Brisbane, QLD, along the East coast of NSW, the South coast of VIC and the Great Dividing Range, including the southern Alps. The transition to the second continental race, "woodwardi", occurs near the VIC/SA border. Race "woodwardi" is found throughout southern SA and WA. In years with good inland rainfall, both continental races can extend their ranges further inland, into the semi-arid interior. Race "clelandi" is found only on Kangaroo Island, SA. Red Wattlebirds are at home in the tree crowns in various types of forest, usually with flowering trees, up to relatively high altitude (observed by us at 1500 m). They adapt quite well to the presence of humans and will enter urban parks and gardens. Where to look? How to find this species? Although, staying high up in flowering trees, at times hard to see, it is usually not difficult to find Red Wattlebirds when they are around. Being a strong, dominant species of nectarivore, the males' raucous calls make sure that everybody knows who is "ruling the roost".

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "carunculata" Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", were first spotted by us at Mt. Kaputar NP, in October 2005. Since then they are spotted semi-regularly in the hills of the Great Dividing Range, e.g. in the higher-elevation parts of Mt. Kaputar NP, at altitudes of up to about 1500 m. Occasionally, they are spotted by us as far West as the western foothills of the Nandewar Range, at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, where they are usually seen feeding on nectar of flowering eucalypts. We spotted several Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", while on tour to the North-East of NSW, near Dorrigo and Wollomombi Falls, Oxley Wild Rivers NP. They were also seen by us in Girraween NP, southern QLD, in July 2009. This location is close to the northern edge of the species' range. Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", were found by us and our contributors in abundance in various locations along the NSW coast. A pair of Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", was spotted by J. Wilson at Narrabri Lake in July 2012. R. Plumtree reports spotting Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", occasionally at Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, and at Metung, near Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC. A. Ross-Taylor reports spotting Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", at Stanthorpe, southern inland QLD, near the northern boundary of their range, in March 2015. M. Eaton reports spotting the species at the same location in June 2017. Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", were found by us in Dubbo, NSW, and in the Goonoo NP, between Dubbo and Mendooran, NSW, and in Coonabarabran, NSW, in October 2015. They were also found farther South, in and around Mudgee, NSW, in December 2015. Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", were found nesting in Coonabarabran, NSW, in November 2018. We thank S. Grey for pointing out the location of the nest to us. M. Eaton reports finding Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", at the Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, and at Torquay, VIC, in April 2022. Race "woodwardi" J. Greaves reports spotting Red Wattlebirds, race "woodwardi", at Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, in December 2014, and at Manjimup, WA, in March 2015. Another Red Wattlebird, race "woodwardi", was seen by J. Greaves at Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, in March 2017. M. Eaton reports finding Red Wattlebirds, race "woodwardi", near Cockburn, WA, in April 2019, and in Port Augusta, SA, in June 2023. C. Pears reports finding Red Wattlebirds, race "woodwardi", regularly in various locations in Perth, WA. They are also present on a daily basis in Quindalup, WA. Race "clelandi" J. Greaves reports spotting Red Wattlebirds, race "clelandi", at Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016.

Photos

Race "carunculata"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Red Wattlebirds, left, have larger wattles than females.

MALE

Close-up frontal view of an adult male(?) Red Wattlebird looking sideways; note the large wattle
[Manilla, NSW, July 2010]

Lateral view of a male(?) Red Wattlebird hopping off its perch (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Metung, near Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, June 2018]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a male Red Wattlebird looking sideways; note the large wattle
[Mudgee, NSW, December 2015]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a male(?) Red Wattlebird
[Manilla, NSW, July 2010]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Red Wattlebird issuing its call
[Manilla, NSW, July 2010]

Dorsal view of a male(?) Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, April 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a male(?) Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Red Wattlebird; note the small wattle (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of an immature(?) Red Wattlebird looking sideways; note the remnant pale gape (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, April 2022]

Close-up lateral view of an immature Red Wattlebird showing the similarity of its facial mask with a Little Friarbird's
[Coonabarabran, NSW, October 2015]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird looking at the observer while feeding in a bottlebrush (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2014]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird feeding in a bottlebrush Juvenile Red Wattlebird feeding in a bottlebrush tree (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2014]

Near-frontal view of a fledgling Red Wattlebird that has fallen out of a tree, but then took off again without any damage done (photo courtesy of C. Lawrence)
[Canberra, ACT, October 2006]

Race "woodwardi"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Red Wattlebirds, left, have larger wattles than females.

MALE

Close-up frontal view of an adult male Red Wattlebird; note the large wattles (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Close-up frontal view of an a male Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, April 2025]

Near-lateral view of a Red Wattlebird; given the very long wattles, this is clearly a male (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red Wattlebird looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, November 2025]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Perry Lakes, Perth, WA, July 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a male(?) Red Wattlebird looking backwards (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Perry Lakes, Perth, WA, July 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a male(?) Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male Red Wattlebird looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, November 2025]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red Wattlebird looking at the observer (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]

Close-up dorsal view of a male Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Perry Lakes, Perth, WA, July 2026]

Dorsal view of a male Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Perry Lakes, Perth, WA, July 2024]

Dorsal view of a male Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Perry Lakes, Perth, WA, July 2024]

FEMALE

Near-lateral view of a female Red Wattlebird checking out the observer; note the small wattle
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female(?) Red Wattlebird resting conveniently on a bollard (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, November 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a female(?) Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Sex unknown

Close-up dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a Red Wattlebird looking sideways - the remnant pale gape and its small size suggest that this is an immature bird; note the damage to some of its toes
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, June 2024]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of an immature Red Wattlebird; note the damage to some of its toes
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, June 2024]

Dorsal view of an immature Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird begging to be fed (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Adult bringing food for a dependent juvenile Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Adult feeding a dependent juvenile Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Race "clelandi"

ADULT

MALE

Partly obscured near-frontal view of a male Red Wattlebird; note the long wattles
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Partly obscured near-ventral view of a male Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Dec

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 15-16 days

Fledging age: 15 - 18 days

Red Wattlebirds can breed most months, with a core breeding period as given in the table above.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Twigs, bark, with fine grass and feather lining

Height above ground: 3 - 20 m

Red Wattlebird nest in a fork in a live eucalypt - note the bird's tail sticking out of the nest almost vertically; S. Grey's help with these observations is greatly appreciated
[Coonabarabran, NSW, November 2018]

View from below of a Red Wattlebird nest in a tree crown (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 33 x 21 mm

Colour: Creamy, with brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial/communal

Mobility: Partly migratory/dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/flock

At least outside the breeding season, Red Wattlebird can appear in mobs of more than 10 birds (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Perry Lakes, Perth, WA, August 2026]

Red Wattlebirds can become tame enough to visit people's gardens and beg for food. They are territorial, but can feed in large numbers in areas with flowering trees.

Close-up near-frontal view of an immature(?) Red Wattlebird begging for food
[Near Dorrigo NP, NSW, August 2009]

The ruffled feathers at this Red Wattlebird's rump indicate that, after taking a bath, is has been using the secretion from its uropygial gland to start oiling its plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2014]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red Wattlebird chiming in with Uriah Heep's "Easy Livin'"; according to the photographer, the volume of the music was more important than its artistic merit (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, November 2025]

Food, Diet

The fact that a Red Wattlebird, about 15 m from an active Willie Wagtail nest, came under sustained, vicious attack suggests that they do not shy away from taking other species' chicks.

Red Wattlebirds feed on nectar, insects and other small animals. They profit from the creation of gardens and parks with flowering plants.

Dorsal view of a male Red Wattlebird feeding on the nectar of a eucalypt
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, April 2025]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red Wattlebird carrying food for its brood (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, November 2025]

Lateral view of a male Red Wattlebird feeding on the nectar of a Grevillea robusta
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Ventral view of a Red Wattlebird foraging in a eucalypt (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Stanthorpe, QLD, March 2015]

Lateral view of a Red Wattlebird taking psyllids (the twig on which it is sitting is infested with them)
[Dunn's Swamp, Wollemi NP, NSW, October 2016]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird using its long, rough tongue to lap up water
[Coonabarabran, NSW, October 2015]

Close-up near-lateral view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird using its long, rough tongue to lap up water
[Coonabarabran, NSW, October 2015]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

redwatt_20220517.m4a	carunculata (NW NSW)	Contacts call (male)	© MD
redwatt_20180921_4.m4a	carunculata (NW NSW)	Territorial call? (male)	© MD
redwatt_20180921_5.m4a	carunculata (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (pair Q&A)	© MD
redwatt_20150124.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (pair Q&A)	© MD
redwatt_20150124_3.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (pair Q&A)	© MD
redwatt_20140506.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Male defending food source	© MD
redwatt_20140508.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Warning call? (food comp.)	© MD
redwatt_20140508_2.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Fighting (over food)	© MD
redwatt_20140508_3.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Fighting (with Blue-faced Honeyeater)	© MD
redwatt_20150124_2.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
redwatt_20171022.m4a	carunculata (NW NSW)	? (2x distant female; + a fly)	© MD
redwatt_cp_20260606.m4a	woodwardi (SW WA)	Territorial call? (male)	© CP
redwatt_cp_20250830.m4a	(SW WA)	Territorial calls?	© CP
redwatt_cp_20260606_2.m4a	woodwardi (SW WA)	Territorial calls? (pair Q&A)	© CP
redwatt_cp_20260723.m4a	woodwardi (SW WA)	Territorial calls? (pair Q&A)	© CP
redwatt_cp_20260725.m4a	woodwardi (SW WA)	Territorial calls? (Q&A)	© CP

More Red Wattlebird sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.